Friday, February 15, 2013

To ask why I read and write... has nothing to do with leaves falling

I thought the answer was easy. But it turns out it's a little more complicated than I thought.

Primarily, I like to read about World of Warcraft. So I'm reading about blogs that talk about things in World of Warcraft. That was my first thought.

I like looking for information on things. Which is why I frequent Jasyla's blog so often, because, as a resto druid, she writes guides and information that is invaluable to the raiding resto druid.

However...

I started to look at the blog sites I frequent the most, and they tend to be the ones who talk about the general goings on within the World of Warcraft. They are almost like reading Facebook, which are bits of everything, and nosing around about what people are doing in their day to day - be that killing raid bosses, finding or taming a new rare, making a new transmog, or talking about some random thoughts in regards to some game mechanic. Often, the blogs I read have ALL of those things mixed in.

Jasyla was interested to see what sorts of people were reading her blog, and what kind of information they were seeking from her. And, though I answered it honestly, I was a little worried - though I do love reading the resto druid things in her blog, I also love to read the other things as well. Would she stop having those based on the poll outcomes? So, no more guild leadership things? No more shenanigans in game?

Reading what other people are doing, normalises what I do in game. Knowing that there are people out there, doing what I do, makes me feel like I'm just like everyone else, and I fit in. Of course, there are those doing things out there which I find amazing, which I enjoy reading because it gives me something to aspire to, something sort of goal that I could try for. OK, maybe some of those goals are a bit beyond me (eg High warlord or Insane) but it is fun to read about it, and what could have been.

And I realised, that for me, reading blogs is not just about the information. I have an insatiable curiosity, to know more about the people behind the blog. Which is why I like to Navispam and reply all comments on my blog. I want to know more about the people I'm reading and whom are reading me, because we are all human, and we all have a small connection - we all play World of Warcraft. Whether they choose to share themselves with me, of course is another story. There are many I read whom have become game friends, and sure, if I stopped playing the game, we may lose touch, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy spending time with them NOW.

But why, you ask, do I need to be so nosy? Why must I know? What if they don't want people to know? Of course, that's ok! But I think people in general like to be treated like a person, and not like a number, or a player or a disease. For example, is it not a common complaint from patients is that their doctors are impersonal, or treat them like a number or a disease, rather than a person? I think most patients like to be treated like a human being, who have a family, have interests, have preferences and special considerations. My relationship with my patients is only brief, but I do try to call them by name and their condition (eg. Mrs Smith who is here for an appendicectomy) to maintain a bit of humanity about the patient. So, is it so different, that I try to do the same for people in the game? Readers? Players? I am sure many of them like to be treated as humans too! Isn't it much nicer, if your local doctor knew a bit about you when you visited, since you see them so often - about your family, major events, and your interests, even just a little bit?

So you see, the answer to why I read, turned out to be a lot longer than just... knowledge.

Do one thing. Do it well. (Don’t write a smattering of garbage nobody reads…unlike a certain other blog I could name. *ahem*)

I felt a bit embarrrassed. He could be talking about me - I write about all sorts of everything! Which comes to the question - why do I write?

At least this, is an easy answer. My blog is a diary, a chronicle. As I age, I like to write down all those memories and moments - awesome moments get lost and fade with time, and so do the emotion that went with them. Each new find, each gift, each discovery, each new friend - every one of these things, TO ME, deserves to be preserved, and be remembered. Because I love to remember what a wonderful time I had, when I was playing World of Warcraft.

29 comments:

I think a lot of people use their blog to reach out to people since they can't/don't do it other ways. I know I do and for the blogger Stormy is referring to, there are so many blogs that fit that description.

People will read or not read regardless but it's also nice to receive a sporadic comment from someone who doesn't normally do so. Sometimes you just need a sounding board so it's a nice to know people are reading.

I think Stormy might be referring to himself LOL! And I think there are many of us, including ourselves, in that category.I like comments as they are a great way of engaging the reader so I can talk to them and have a conversation.

I certainly don't do one thing well but the things I find fascinating in WoW are the little every day things and I enjoy reading blogs written by people I know I'd like if I met them. I'm pretty much reading because of the person behind the blog not so much the content.

I am so thankful for my WoW blogging friends as I'm trapped here with non-gamers who can't talk about WoW! They don't even know who Mankrik or Hogger is!!! You all save my life, lol!

You know, when I read Stormy's comment, I thought the same thing--it could be me. The blogs I read regularly (be they on my blog list or not--sometimes I forget to link the ones I'm reading and click through my history instead /sheepish) tend to be about the "every day nonsense" and not about the exact strategy to so-and-so-whatever.

Don't get me wrong! When I need important info about so-and-so-whatever, I don't hesitate to read up on it. But reading through the transmogs, and roleplay stories, and collections, and all that other stuff takes my mind to a different place: my World-of-Barbies La-Lan-Land (as my husband likes to call it), and I relax and travel with the person writing. And sometimes, I'm inspired to find my own journey into that very same non existential subject, and feel a connection (be it one-sided) with the person who wrote about it.

I think no one should judge or criticize, you don't like it, don't read it. And secretly, I think those of us who play in so-called World-of-Barbies La-La-Land get so much more for our money... ;)

Do one thing and do it well... Damn I knew I was doing something wrong. I think I might fail on both of those parts but the thing is. The blogs I really enjoy reading the most are the ones that let me feel like I can connect with the person writing them even if it's only for a moment. It's something I hope to someday have others feel when they find themselves stumbling over to my blog.

I think Stormy's comment is predicated on the idea that a blog is a product that we're all trying to push. For some people, this may well be the case: I'm sure some authors want to maximise their traffic each month, or they want to be a go-to resource for, say, class information, and I think his advice might be quite useful for them.

A lot of the blogs I read regularly, however, yours included, are much more about sharing and entertaining than informing - not to say informing never comes into it! - and I think his comment fails to account for the fact that this is a community more than a marketplace, and these kinds of blogs really add to the personality of the WoW playerbase.

For a lot of blogs that use the smattering of this and that approach, their primary draw is the writer themselves: their habits, their interests, them-as-human, just as you've written here. In fact, I love this line:

we are all human, and we all have a small connection - we all play World of Warcraft.

Yes! We blog about a shared hobby, and people chat about their hobbies! We have an audience with a wealth of experiences and enthusiasms about the game, who want to hear from other people with the same. I don't really look to have my activities normalised as you do, mostly because I've been slightly odd compared to my peers for most of my life, heh, so I guess normal is not all that normal for me, but I definitely read to understand why others play, and also to remind myself that so many different people are in this game. I love all the different focuses, I love diary posts and snarky informative posts and comic posts and wordless screenshot posts and somewhat-IRL-related posts. I would never object to all of the above showing up in one blog.

And I do think that Stormy is out of line in pointing fingers, however vaguely, and branding blogs 'rubbish.' He may not like those blogs, but they're a testament to their authors' enthusiasm and eagerness to share, and it's pretty low to dump on that, I have to say. :/

I think poor Stormy is getting a hammering because we all took his comment differently - I really do think, after reading it for the 10th time that he is talking about his own blog!You probably find our kind of blog is the more predominant kind - there are very few pure info blogs these days, as most people want to write about their experiences in the game.

Yes! The HUMAN behind the blog. It’s so often overlooked, I believe. It’s the same in game. If you’re not part of something like a raid team, or an RBG team, or an RP group, etc. there may be times where your character is all that’s known about you, and not even all that in-depth. I’m sure there are a lot of folks behind the toons who don’t want to be known for various reasons, but maybe there are more who DO want to be known. Spend some time in Mumble with me, and you’ll know all about the “Mike” behind the “Cohumulone.”Nice read! Thanks for commenting on my post earlier. It led me here. 

Hey nastiest :) though I loathe to call you that in case you are actually quite pleasant. Well, hopefully I can get to know you thru blog chatting, thank you for stopping by! I'm always happy to get to know bloggers behind the keyboard - as long as they're not REALLY nasty /wink

I've read your post over a few times trying to collect my thoughts because I didn't want to make myself look like a fool raging over Stormy's comment.

Now, I don't know Stormy. So, I have zero insight on whether he meant it to come off like that or if he thought it was a fun jab at himself. Honestly, I couldn't say. What I do know, is that it was received negatively and that it left people wondering if he was jabbing his finger at them and that's not ok. We get enough of that in our daily lives, and even in WoW sometimes and I feel that behaviours like that have no place in the blogging community or any community at all really. We should be lifting each other up rather than discouraging one another.

It's especially not ok, because you, Navi are so nice. You welcomed me into this community and have helped me to feel accepted and worthy of participating in it. It makes me sad, that he made you, of all people, feel singled out and excluded.

I think poor Stormy will wonder what teacup I've been drinking from!Believe me, I didn't take offense at his comment - I did look at it and wonder who could he mean - and thought he could mean someone like me (and there are lots of bloggers like me) but I really do think he means himself.I am really honoured that you think so highly of me. That means a lot Malk :) one day I'm sure you will do the same for some new shy blogger too :)

Thanks Josh! I find that the blogs I visit the most are the ones who talk back to me after I comment - it makes me feel like I'm a valued reader y'know? So I couldn't do any different on my own. Besides I love chatting to my readers, they always surprise me with some funny quip or POV!

I know exactly what you mean. It's part of the reason why I love visiting here, and why I'm trying to respond with enthusiasm and excitement to every comment on my blog. It just makes it more fun for everyone!